ATLANTA -- The Fulton County Republican Party nominated former Atlanta mayoral candidate and Atlanta City Council member Mary Norwood to the Fulton County Elections Board.

She would replace William F. Riley, who resigned.

"With the resignation of our County Party stalwart and former judge, William Riley, from the Board of Elections and the ongoing investigation by the Secretary of State's office, we had to act quickly to find someone with the high caliber of intellect and ability to effect change," Fulton County Republican Party Chairman Roger Bonds said in a statement.

"Mary Norwood is just that kind of person," Bonds added. "Her background as a small business owner, community activist and former elected official gives her the political savvy and professionalism that makes her the ideal person to continue the clean-up work Riley started."

So far, the South Fulton Annex in College Park has received the most early voters, with 27,182 people queuing up to make their voices heard. That location also recorded the longest wait times in the county, with some people standing in line for up to two hours to vote.

The Fulton County Government Center on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta has both the shortest wait time -- at 11 a.m., voters could walk right up to the polls -- and the fewest total number of voters, at 13,073.

ATLANTA -- Georgia's Student Advisory Council is now accepting applications for the 2012-13 school year.

The Student Advisory Council reports to State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge to discuss how decisions made at the state level affect students throughout Georgia, according to Georgia Department of Education spokesman Matt Cardoza.

The council will meet twice during the school year -- Wednesday, Nov. 7 and Wednesday, Mar. 6. Applicants must be available to meet on both days.

All Georgia students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply.

"I am looking forward to getting to know a new group of student advisors and discuss how our policies affect them on a daily basis," Barge said in a statement. "We want to make education work for all Georgia's students and hearing directly from them is the best way to ensure that happens."

ATLANTA -- Jud Turner has been appointed director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR board made the appointment official this week after Gov. Nathan Deal nominated Turner for the post.

Turner replaces F. Allen Barnes, who is leaving to work in the private sector.

Turner is a founding partner in the law firm Turner, Bachman & Garrett LLC and public affairs firm Georgia360 LLC. He was former Gov. Sonny Perdue's lead attorney and represented the governor during negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service during the state's severe drought.

Turner has also served as general counsel to the Georgia Department of Education.

Fulton County Commissioner William “Bill” Edwards, District 7, will host his fourth Quarterly “Community Listening Session” for 2011 on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 7 p.m.

The public is invited to voice their comments about Fulton County services in South Fulton as well as any other concerns they may have.

All citizens, including youth, are urged to participate in the session, which will be held in the South Fulton Government Service Center Auditorium, located at 5600 Stonewall Tell Road in College Park, Georgia.

Staff from Fulton County agencies will be on hand to answer questions and follow up on inquiries.

This is the final listening session of the year. For more information about the listening session, please contact Commissioner Edwards’ office at 404.612.8230 or 404.612.3079.